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Ohio voters oppose changing the current system of electing state Supreme Court judges by an
overwhelming 81 - 15 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today, with
opposition at or near 80 percent among every political, income, age, race and gender group.

Voters support 52 - 38 percent a proposed new tax on companies drilling for oil and
natural gas in the state, little changed from 55 - 35 percent support when the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University asked the question in May.

If money from such a tax were used to cut income taxes for state residents, support for
the levy rises to 62 - 31 percent, similar to May's 60 - 32 percent finding. Republican voters,
who oppose the new tax 56 - 33 percent, shift to support it 52 - 40 percent when it is used to
offset income taxes.

With three new casinos now open around the state, a solid majority of voters, 57 - 33
percent, think those establishments will be good for Ohio, although only 38 percent say it is very
or somewhat likely they will visit one of the casinos.

"Efforts to end the system of electing state Supreme Court judges have no support with
the general public," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling
Institute. "Four in five voters oppose the idea with virtually no difference along political or
gender lines. Simply put this is an idea that is going nowhere with Ohio voters. Their views
should not be surprising since in general voters want to decide things themselves rather than give
politicians the power to decide for them."

"Ohio voters support the idea of taxing the state's oil and gas producers, especially if the
money would go to cutting income taxes for state residents. On these questions, too, there is
widespread agreement," Brown added. "Only Republicans don't give at least a plurality support
to the idea generally and even they, back the idea if the money raised went to cutting state
income taxes."

Looking at public school funding, 51 percent of Ohio voters say schools should better
manage the funds they already have, while 37 percent say schools need more money.

Ohio voters also are divided on two national issues that have been in the news lately:

45 percent of voters support same-sex marriage while 47 percent are opposed. Among
men, 48 percent are opposed with 42 percent in favor; among women, 47 percent support
gay marriage while 45 percent are opposed.

47 - 47 percent on legalizing marijuana, with men in favor by a narrow 49 - 46 percent
and women opposed by an equally narrow 48 - 45 percent.

"Ohioans' views on legalizing the personal use of pot are slightly more conservative than
the nation at large," said Brown. "A Quinnipiac University national poll released last week found
support for legalizing marijuana at 51 - 44 percent."

From December 4 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,165 registered voters with a
margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia
and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?

25. Regardless of whether you think these casinos will be good or bad for Ohio, how likely is it that you will go to one of these casinos in the next year or so; very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?

TREND: Regardless of whether you think these casinos will be good or bad for Ohio, how likely is it that you will go to one of these casinos in the next year or so; very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?

26. Ohio currently elects its judges on the state supreme court. Some have suggested that be changed so that judges would be appointed by the governor with input from the state bar association and confirmed by the legislature. Which do you prefer: A) Keeping the current system of electing Ohio supreme court judges, or B) Changing to a system in which new judges would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature?

27. When it comes to public schools in Ohio, which best represents your view: A) In order to do a better job, public schools in Ohio need to receive more money from government B) In order to do a better job, public schools in Ohio need to spend the money they receive from the government differently?